One of those companies is Riviera Creek, owned by locals Brian and Daniel Kessler. A warehouse on Youngstown’s Crescent Street would be transformed into a marijuana farm.

Daniel is hoping to know which companies will be receiving the licenses soon.

“They’re working hard on this and hopefully announcing the level 1 by the end of the month. Our expectation, or I should say our hope, is by the middle of the month, we hear,” he said.

Daniel said the state has also started taking applications for processors and dispensaries. His company will submit an application to be a processing plant and is deciding whether to submit one for selling.

Even though the state has chosen its smaller growers, it could be months before they start their first crop.

These companies will get provisional licenses but can’t immediately begin growing marijuana. They must first get their businesses operational and have a state team visit their facilities.